Location of Lacey Township in Ocean County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Ocean County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
The Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station is located in the southern part of the township. The single-unit 636 MWe boiling water reactor power plant adjoins the Oyster Creek and is owned and operated by Exelon Corporation. It produced 9% of the state's electricity and is the nation's oldest operating nuclear power plant, having first been brought online on December 1, 1969, and is licensed to operate until April 9, 2029.[26] In 2010, Exelon announced that it would close the facility in 2019 as part of an agreement with the State of New Jersey under which the plant would be allowed to operate without cooling towers.[27] The plant, which had contributed a third of the township's budget through taxes, was closed in September 2018, after which a decommissioning process estimated to take eight years and cost $1.4 billion was to be undertaken.[28]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 99.81 square miles (258.49 km2), including 83.25 square miles (215.62 km2) of land and 16.55 square miles (42.87 km2) of water (16.58%).[1][2]
Forked River (with a 2010 Census population of 5,244[30]) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Lacey Township.[31][32][33] Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Aserdaten, Bamber Lake, Barnegat Pines, Batuber, Cedar Creek, Cedar Crest, Deer Head Lake, Good Luck, Lake Barnegat, Lanoka Harbor, Osteam, Red Oak Grove, Union Clay Works and Webbs Mill.[34] The township's fire stations are named after the various areas of Lacey Township.
The north–south track of the Garden State Parkway serves as an informal use divider under the 1979 Pinelands Act and the subsequent Comprehensive Management Plan. To the east of the Parkway are more than 95% of Lacey's residential dwellings, located in the unincorporated areas of Lanoka Harbor and Forked River. To the Parkway's west is a mostly undisturbed pine and cedar forest, part of New Jersey's vast Pine Barrens. The forest is interspersed with a scattered few farms, houses and ranches, the tiny community of Bamber Lakes and open pit gravel quarries—all of which predate passage of the Pinelands Act or were developed under its tight zoning rules. The conditions of grandfathering vary—the mines' exceptions are to expire upon the deaths of their owners whereas the farms' exceptions are indefinite. Development west of the parkway, covering two-thirds of the township's area, is strictly controlled by the New Jersey Pinelands Commission.[37]
Some Ocean County residents refer to all of Lacey Township as Forked River with the first word pronounced with two syllables (FOR-kid or FORK-id). Pronouncing the first word with one syllable is a sign of a non-native.[38][39]
In a 2015 NJ.com poll with 91,000 respondents, Lacey Township was voted as part of South Jersey. According to the poll results, Lacey Township is South Jersey's northernmost Jersey Shore community.[40]
The 2010 United States census counted 27,644 people, 10,183 households, and 7,607 families in the township. The population density was 332.0 inhabitants per square mile (128.2/km2). There were 11,573 housing units at an average density of 139.0 per square mile (53.7/km2). The racial makeup was 96.15% (26,581) White, 0.60% (167) Black or African American, 0.14% (38) Native American, 0.80% (222) Asian, 0.02% (6) Pacific Islander, 1.14% (316) from other races, and 1.14% (314) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.74% (1,310) of the population.[20]
Of the 10,183 households, 31.2% had children under the age of 18; 60.0% were married couples living together; 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.3% were non-families. Of all households, 20.1% were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.13.[20]
23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.5 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $72,835 (with a margin of error of ± $3,271) and the median family income was $84,031 (± $6,930). Males had a median income of $56,748 (± $3,051) versus $40,360 (± $3,340) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,552 (± $1,524). About 2.2% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.[50]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 25,346 people, 9,336 households, and 7,244 families residing in the township. The population density was 301.7 inhabitants per square mile (116.5/km2). There were 10,580 housing units at an average density of 126.0 per square mile (48.6/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 97.85% White, 0.36% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15% of the population.[47][48]
There were 9,336 households, out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.5% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.08.[47][48]
In the township the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.[47][48]
The median income for a household in the township was $55,938, and the median income for a family was $61,298. Males had a median income of $47,406 versus $30,088 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,136. About 3.7% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.[47][48]
Economy
Lacey Township is home to many businesses, the largest employer has been the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station. The facility, which closed in 2018, generated $70 million in wages in 2010 for its 700 employees, making it one of the largest employers in the county.[27]
In the early to late 2000s, Lacey experienced rapid growth in recent years with the addition of many new developments and new "big-box" stores being built around the township. Previously, township residents had to travel to Stafford Township (Manahawkin) or Toms River to shop at these stores.
Recent local controversies have surrounded development and land use. In particular, a proposal to build a road on an old railroad right of way behind the ShopRite has been a major issue in the community. Other issues involve the lack of water resources to sustain the Home Depot (which opened in October 2007) and the 142,000-square-foot (13,200 m2) Walmart that opened in October 2009.[51]
Arts and culture
The Old Schoolhouse Museum is a small old school building that was built in the mid-19th century as the first school in Forked River, and was used as a school until 1954.[52]
The township had an annual Night of Lights on the Forked River, which was a boat parade at night in August. Owners dressed up their boats with lights and sailed down the river at night to the Captain's Inn. This had been changed to Rock the River after the original family that supported the event withdrew from involvement. It is now sponsored by local business and organizations and known as the Lacey Lights Boat Parade.[53]
Parks and recreation
Popcorn Park Zoo is a small 7-acre (28,000 m2) zoo that hosts a wide range of animals and features big cats, monkeys and black bears among the 200 animals on the site. The zoo was established in 1977 at a facility covering 7 acres (2.8 ha).[54]
The Relay for Life had been held annually at Gille Park to raise money towards cancer research. However, in 2010, the Lacey Township Committee did not allow the walk to be held at Gille, and it was moved to Veteran's Park in Bayville.
Much of the nearly 8,500-acre (3,400 ha) Double Trouble State Park is located within the township, but its main access point is in neighboring Berkeley Township.[55]Robert J. Miller Air Park, also known as the Ocean County Airport, is a county-owned public-use airport partially located within Lacey Township, but also with its main entry point in Berkeley.[56]
Township parks located within Lacey, include Clune, Gille, Hebrew and Huffy Wallis parks.[57] The township is also home to a number of marinas, including the Forked River State Marina, which offers 125 berths.[58]
Tices shoal, an area located on the bay side of Island Beach State Park, is located within the township. It is a popular summer destination for boaters because of its shallow waters and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Island Beach State Park, as well as the Barnegat Inlet, are accessible from the township via boat.[59]
Government
Local government
Lacey Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.[60] The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.[7][61] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.
As of 2024[update], members of the Lacey Township Committee are Mayor Peggy Sue Juliano (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Peter A. Curatolo (R, term on committee ends 2025; term as deputy mayor ends 2024), Mark Dykoff (R, 2024) and Steven C. Kennis (R, 2025) and Timothy McDonald (R, 2024).[3][62][63][64][65][66][67]
Federal, state, and county representation
Lacey Township is located in the 2nd and 4th Congressional Districts[68] and is part of New Jersey's 9th state legislative district.[69][70][71]
Ocean County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of five members who are elected on an at-large basis in partisan elections and serving staggered three-year terms of office, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization held in the beginning of January, the board chooses a director and a deputy director from among its members.[78] As of 2025[update], Ocean County's Commissioners (with party affiliation, term-end year and residence) are:
Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:
Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2025, Barnegat Light),[86][87]
Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[88][89] and
Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).[90][91][92]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 18,255 registered voters in Lacey Township, of which 3,172 (17.4%) were registered as Democrats, 5,043 (27.6%) were registered as Republicans and 10,035 (55.0%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[93] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 66.0% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 85.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).[93][94]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 59.1% of the vote (7,438 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 39.7% (4,998 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (159 votes), among the 12,696 ballots cast by the township's 19,182 registered voters (101 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 66.2%.[95][96] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 59.4% of the vote (8,188 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 38.4% (5,286 votes) and other candidates with 1.5% (200 votes), among the 13,776 ballots cast by the township's 19,102 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.1%.[97] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 63.3% of the vote (8,300 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 35.5% (4,655 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (107 votes), among the 13,102 ballots cast by the township's 17,986 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 72.8.[98]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 75.2% of the vote (6,394 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.1% (1,966 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (145 votes), among the 8,698 ballots cast by the township's 19,068 registered voters (193 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.6%.[99][100] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.3% of the vote (6,314 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 23.6% (2,154 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.0% (459 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (89 votes), among the 9,109 ballots cast by the township's 18,618 registered voters, yielding a 48.9% turnout.[101]
Education
The Lacey Township School District serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.[102] As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 3,864 students and 334.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.6:1.[103] Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[104]) are
Mill Pond Elementary School[105] with 635 students in grades 5-6 (now PreK-K),
Cedar Creek Elementary School[106] with 437 students in grades K-4 (now 1-5),
Forked River Elementary School[107] with 465 students in grades K-4 (now 1-5),
Lanoka Harbor Elementary School[108] with 449 students in grades K-4 (now 1-5),
Lacey Township Middle School[109] with 608 students in grades 7-8 (now 6-8) and
Lacey Township High School[110] with 1,256 students in grades 9-12.[111][112][113]
St. Mary Academy in Manahawkin, a K–8 school of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, is in the area. From 1997,[114] until 2019 it operated as All Saints Regional Catholic School and was collectively managed by five churches,[115] with one being St. Pius X Church,[114] in the township and adjacent to the Forked River CDP.[116][117] In 2019 St. Mary Church in Barnegat took entire control of the school, which remained on the same Manahawkin campus, and changed its name. The other churches no longer operate the school but still may send students there.[115]
In terms of televised news coverage, both New York City and Philadelphia television stations provide coverage of the township, as the media markets of both cities overlap in the township, as they do in much of Ocean County.[citation needed]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 194.40 miles (312.86 km) of roadways, of which 155.81 miles (250.75 km) were maintained by the municipality, 28.45 miles (45.79 km) by Ocean County, 4.45 miles (7.16 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 5.69 miles (9.16 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[119]
The Garden State Parkway passes through the township, connecting Ocean Township in the south to Berkeley Township in the north.[120] The Forked River Service Area is located at milepost 76 on the Parkway and Interchange 74 is signed for access to Forked River and Waretown.[121]U.S. Route 9 also traverses the township in the eastern part. County Route 539 passes through in the western area but without any intersections to other roads in the municipality.
Melissa Drexler (born 1978), was nicknamed in the media as "The Prom Mom" after she delivered a baby in a restroom stall during her high school prom in 1997[130]
^Lacey Community ProfileArchived 2015-09-06 at the Wayback Machine, Ocean County Library. Accessed September 2, 2015. "In 1809, John Lacey, a Revolutionary War general, built Ferrago Forge---for his contribution to the growth and importance of the area, the township was named for him when it was incorporated in 1871."
^Staff. "Feds OK new license for NJ nuclear power plant", The Washington Times, April 1, 2009. Accessed December 26, 2012. "The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted 3-1 on Wednesday to grant a new license to the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Lacey Township, N.J. It provides 9 percent of New Jersey's electricity. Oyster Creek and Nine Mile Point Nuclear Generating Station in upstate New York both went online Dec. 1, 1969. But Oyster Creek is considered older because its initial license was granted first."
^ ab"Exelon to shut NJ Oyster Creek reactor in 2019", Reuters, December 9, 2010. Accessed August 12, 2014. "Exelon Corp (EXC.N) will shut the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in New Jersey in 2019, about 10 years before its license expires, in a deal with the state allowing the reactor to operate until then without building expensive cooling towers, the company said in a release late Wednesday.... The decision also delays any immediate economic impact on Lacey Township, where the plant is located, Exelon said, noting Oyster Creek is one of the largest employers in Ocean County, providing more than $70 million annually in wages for nearly 700 plant workers, property taxes and purchases of goods and services from New Jersey businesses."
^Davis, Mike. "Oyster Creek shut down: Lacey nuclear power plant, oldest in US, closed after 49 years", Asbury Park Press, September 17, 2018. Accessed September 30, 2018. "After over 49 years, the nuclear reactor at the Oyster Creek Generating Station was powered down on Monday, the final day in the life of the country's oldest commercial nuclear power plant.... Now, Oyster Creek's property taxes and energy tax receipts account for more than $13 million, over one third of the town's revenue.... Holtec will take over the process of decommissioning the plant and restoring it for future development, a process that Exelon has estimated will cost upward of $1.4 billion."
^Ocean County Wastewater Management Plan: Lacey TownshipArchived 2016-08-19 at the Wayback Machine, Ocean County, New Jersey Department of Planning, January 2015. Accessed July 28, 2016. "All land west of the Garden State Parkway (about 66.93% of the municipality's total area) is located within the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan Area. The Balance of Lacey's land area is within the CAFRA region to the east."
^Suhay, Lisa. "Jerseyana; Where They Don't Speak With Forked Tongue", The New York Times, December 8, 2002. Accessed September 13, 2013. "'It's FORK-ed River,' Jennifer Sawicki, 25, who was born in the town, said with a laugh.... Donald M. Launer, a resident and author of A Cruising Guide to New Jersey Waters (Rutgers Press, 1997), had a long laugh at the idea of asking people how to pronounce the name and at the mere thought that anyone in Forked River would say Forkt. 'The name originated in the 1700s, and it is the typical archaic pronunciation that has just stuck,' he said."
^"Jersey Shore Diversions Beyond The Beach", The New York Times, July 12, 1981. Accessed July 27, 2013. "In Forked River, the Old Schoolhouse Museum on Route 9 is a tworoom grade school that was built around the time of the Civil War and was not retired from service until 1954."
^Farquharson, Ian. Rock the River Boat Parade in New JerseyArchived 2016-05-17 at the Wayback Machine, local.com. Accessed September 13, 2013. "Originally known as the Night of Lights Boat Parade, the event went through a few changes in the late 2000s, when local businesses took over sponsorship and organization. It became known as Rock the River in 2008, and these days commonly has the name Lacey Lights Boat Parade."
^Popcorn Park, Associated Humane Societies. Accessed September 13, 2013.
^Ocean County Airport, Ocean County Department of Planning. Accessed February 25, 2020. "Ocean County is an Airport is an 822-acre facility located in the heart of the NJ Pinelands in Berkeley and Lacey Townships."
^Parks, Lacey Township. Accessed September 21, 2016.
^Lacey Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Lacey Township School District. Accessed November 17, 2023. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-School Handicapped through twelve in the Lacey Township School District. Composition: The Lacey Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Lacey Township."
^"Home". Saint Pius X Church. Retrieved June 23, 2020. 300 Lacey Road, Forked River, NJ 08731 - It has a Forked River postal address but is outside the CDP.
^Barnegat Branch Trail-Conceptual Plan: Existing Right-of-Way ConditionsArchived 2017-04-06 at the Wayback Machine, Ocean County, New Jersey Department of Planning. Accessed September 21, 2016. "The former railroad right-of-way is an intact and largely continuous linear corridor that runs 13.6 miles and contains approximately 92 acres. As noted, the Trail corridor spans seven municipalities. From the south the municipalities include: Barnegat Township, Ocean Township (Waretown), Lacey Township (Forked River, Lanoka Harbor), Berkeley Township, (Bayville, Pinewald) Beachwood Borough, South Toms River Borough and Downtown Toms River."
^Kamin, Arthur Z. "New Jersey Q & A: Keith Elias; From the Ivy League to Giants Stadium", The New York Times, October 23, 1994. Accessed August 12, 2014. "Lacey Township is where it all began -- on the Pop Warner team, an instructional program for 7- to 13-year-olds -- for the 5-foot-9-inch 191-pound Mr. Elias, one of a small number of Ivy Leaguers to earn a place on an N.F.L. roster."
^Carchidi, Sam. "It's Time: The Basketball Playoffs Are Here", The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 29, 1988. Accessed December 21, 2014. "There isn't a clear-cut favorite among a contingent that features second-seeded Lacey Township - which is led by swingman Chris Fleming, a University of Connecticut-bound senior who is averaging 31.9 points per game - third-seeded Eastern, sixth-seeded Willingboro and seventh-seeded Middle Township, which won the Group 2 title last year."
^Joyce, Greg. "Mark Leiter Jr. gets surprise call from IronPigs to Phillies", The Express-Times, April 19, 2017. Accessed May 10, 2017. "The Lanoka Harbor, N.J. resident split 2015 between Reading and High-A Clearwater -- both starting and relieving -- after splitting 2014 between Clearwater and Low-A Lakewood, only starting."
^"Palguta Named to Men's Soccer All-Ivy Second Team", CSTV. November 16, 2004. Accessed October 10, 2007. "It was announced today by the Ivy League offices that Cornell senior defenseman Scott Palguta (Forked River, N.J.) has been given All-Ivy honors, being named to the second team."
^Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual, 1985, p. 247. Accessed April 20, 2020. "Jorge A. Rod, Rep., Lacey - Assemblyman Rod is the mayor of Lacey Township, an office he assumed in 1981, after having served nine years on the Township Committee."
^Sporer, Jeff. "Former Lacey Township quarterback Warren Smith has Maine challenging for conference title", The Press of Atlantic City, November 7, 2011. Accessed September 2, 2015. "Three years later, the 21-year old Lacey Township High School graduate is leading the University of Maine in a November charge toward the Colonial Athletic Association championship.... 'We call it November tough here at Maine,' said Smith, a senior from the Forked River section of Lacey Township."
^Vosseller, Bob.
"Interact, Rotary, wrestlers raise funds"Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine, Times Beacon, May 29, 2008. Accessed December 26, 2012. "A Jersey Shore title match will be held between champion Nicky Oceans versus Lacey Township's own Rhett Titus."
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